Charlie Coyle collected a goal and three assists on Tuesday to help the surging Columbus Blue Jackets extend their point streak to 10 games with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes.
Columbus’ Mason Marchment joined Coyle in converting on the power play in the first period. Danton Heinen and defenseman Denton Mateychuk scored 34 seconds apart in the second and Mathieu Olivier tallied in the third as the Blue Jackets improved to 6-0-4 in their last 10 games.
Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger each notched two assists and Jet Greaves made 27 saves for Columbus, which is 16-2-4 since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as the team’s head coach on Jan. 12.
Andrei Svechnikov scored a goal in the second period and Brandon Bussi turned aside 25 shots for the Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes, who have lost three of their last five.
Stationed behind the net, Coyle wired a sharp feed to near the hashmarks of the left circle that Marchment one-timed past Bussi to open the scoring 5:25 into the game. Marchment’s goal was his 16th of the season and 12th in 25 games with the Blue Jackets.
Coyle doubled the advantage with 55 seconds remaining in the first period after a slick play in front of the net. Fantilli sent a shot on goal from the left circle, then Coyle extended his stick to corral the puck before tucking it past Bussi’s outstretched pad for his 17th goal of the season.
Svechnikov halved the deficit with 5:55 remaining in the second period before Columbus scored twice in short order to regain control.
Heinen provided a hard forecheck that caused Bussi to lose his footing while playing the puck behind his net. Coyle was denied on his shot at the empty net, but Heinen converted to give Columbus a 3-1 lead with 2:31 remaining in the second. The goal was Heinen’s 100th of his NHL career.
Mateychuk’s shot from the point crossed up Bussi to extend the Blue Jackets’ advantage to 4-1 at 18:03 of the second. Olivier cleaned up a rebound 7:38 into the third to cap the scoring.
–Field Level Media
